The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, also known as JFK, has revealed what the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, told him when he informed him about his summon to the Manhyia Palace, by the Kumasi traditional Council.
JFK, who appeared before the chiefs and elders of the Ashanti Kingdom on Monday, January 22nd 2023, said that he received a notice from Baffour Kantankrankyi, the chief of staff of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to present Chairman Wontumi before the Kumasi Traditional Council.
The summon was in relation to some alleged derogatory remarks that Chairman Wontumi made against the Asantehene during the vetting of parliamentary aspirants in Manhyia South.
“I got a notice a short while ago that Baffour Kantankrankyi said I should call him. Truthfully, I called him. When I did, he told me to present ‘my child’, the regional chairman, before the chiefs of Ashanti kingdom,” JFK said.
However, when he called Chairman Wontumi to relay the message, he said that he was on his way to China and that he would show up when he returned.
“I immediately called chairman to relay the message, and he told me he was on his way to China and that when he returns he will show up,” JFK said.
JFK said that he then travelled from Accra to Kumasi to plead with the chiefs on behalf of Chairman Wontumi, out of respect for the Asantehene and the Asanteman chiefs.
“I was then in Accra, but because of the respect my party and I have for our Lord (Otumfuor) and the Asanteman chiefs, I came from Accra to Kumasi, and visited the chiefs, Nana Samaahene, Nana Ankobea and I sat with them and told them that I had already mentioned on phone that Chairman had travelled, but I also had to come and plead with them,” JFK said.
JFK’s revelation has confirmed the reports that Chairman Wontumi snubbed the summon from the Manhyia Palace, which has angered the chiefs and the youth of the Ashanti Kingdom.
Some of the chiefs asserted that Chairman Wontumi must appear before the Council, even if he would come in a wheelchair.
The youth of the Kingdom have also threatened to exile Chairman Wontumi from the Ashanti land if he does not apologise to the Asantehene and the chiefs.
The Kumasi Traditional Council has also reportedly summoned Chairman Wontumi, lawyer Maurice Ampaw, and the management of Wontumi Radio and TV over the comments made by the latter against the chiefs during a programme on the station.